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PM plays development card
NC promises development councils
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Heavy polling snub to separatists: Soz
Last two phases to decide fate of bigwigs
Residents want candidates to deliver
Srinagar closed against PM’s visit
Protest against PM’s visit
Mufti hails PM’s Kashmir remark
Development dominates campaign here
Security beefed up in Doda
Temple’s neglect has priest disenchanted
Smriti rakes up Amarnath land row for votes
Parties out to woo Sikhs
LeT vows to continue armed struggle
Panthers for action against Kishtwar DC
Poll authorities order probe
Cong candidate begins campaign
Shun divisive politics, says Ajatshatru
CRPF jawan, civilian killed in mishap
Exams put off
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PM plays development card
Bid to woo
Sikhs Meanwhile, the Congress seemed to be wooing Sikhs, who form a sizable part of the voters in Gandhi Nagar where the rally was held, as Mahant Manjeet Singh was invited to the dais to give 'siropa' (robe of honour) to the PM prior to the start of the rally. The Mahant, who is the head of Dera Nangali Sahib, has reportedly urged his followers to vote for Congress candidate from Gandhi Nagar Raman
Bhalla.
Jammu, December 14 Addressing a rally at Satwari, he said: "Though Jammu and Kashmir made rapid strides on the development front under the Congress-led regime, a lot needs to be done. We understand your problems and needs and if you vote the Congress to power it will be our effort to provide electricity, roads, potable water and employment to everyone." He said under the UPA government's 24,000-crore reconstruction plan thousands of unemployed people got jobs. "We laid stress on power generation and the Dulhasti and Baglihar power projects were started. We also sanctioned a central varsity, an IIM, 14 new colleges, 9 ITIs for women, 65 schools for girl child and over 8,000 anganwari centres. The medical colleges of Jammu and Srinagar are being developed on the lines of the AIIMS. We also gave nod to 628 road projects," he added. The Prime Minister tried to strike a chord with the people here by touching issues like "discrimination" with Jammu, unemployment, industry and refugees who form a sizable population in the region. The Congress would make sincere efforts to address the issue of discrimination in the disbursal of funds with Jammu and Ladakh, he assured Stating that he was also among those displaced during Partition in 1947, Dr Manmohan Singh said such people were no more called the refugees, though it was unfortunate that they were yet to be properly rehabilitated. He said the UPA government had taken some measures, which were just the beginning, and they wanted to take the process forward. The PM said whatever promises have been made by the Congress in its manifesto, including implementation of the 6th Pay Commission and a special package for the unemployed, would be fulfilled. He also promised special attention towards tourism, horticulture, trade and industry so as to facilitate new job avenues for the state's youth. Apparently lashing out at the rival parties, he exhorted the people to defeat the divisive forces who were trying to divide them on regional and religious lines. |
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NC promises development councils
Doda, December 14 The NC too adopted the same line to woo the voters. NC MLC Devender Singh Rana, while addressing a series of public meetings in different areas of Doda, said for the proper development of the district it was essential that the Doda Autonomous Hill Development Council was constituted on the lines of the Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Council and the Leh Autonomous Hill Development Council. Rana, who was addressing election meetings in support of party candidate Khalid Najeeb Suharwardy, said the NC was committed to regional autonomy and sub-regional autonomy for an equitable distribution of resources. He said an autonomous hill development council would empower the people of Doda and they would be able to elect their own representatives as also participate in the process of planning and development for their area. Rana expressed his anguish at the bad condition of roads, lack of water supply schemes, poor electricity supply and other amenities. He said the NREGA scheme had been misused in Doda and the end user had not been benefited and this had defeated the purpose of the entire scheme. He said the NC if voted to power would ensure that the beneficiaries of all such public welfare schemes got their due. Rana said the party’s manifesto drafted under the leadership of its president Omar Abdullah had envisaged special schemes for the welfare of the unemployed youth of the state and promised that the new NC government under the leadership of Dr Farooq Abdullah would usher in an era of unprecedented development and open up new vistas of employment for the youth, particularly those in the far flung rural areas. Aijaz Ahmed Jan, provincial secretary, YNC, said the era of “corruption, unemployment, poverty, mal-administration, and no development and loot-scoot” unleashed by the previous Congress-PDP coalition government would come to an end and the people would see a new era of peace, progress, stability and prosperity. He urged the people of the constituency to come forward and vote in favour of the NC. Dharamveer Singh Jamwal, deputy mayor of the Jammu Municipal Corporation, while addressing meetings, said the people of the state and those living in remote areas had faced a lot of difficulties and the Congress-PDP government was to be blamed for this. |
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Heavy polling snub to separatists: Soz
Shangus (Anantnag), December 14 He also appealed to the youth to shun the gun and join the democratic way saying Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi had their doors open for talks. “We are for democracy and the gun is a path of suffocation”, Soz said in his address at the election rally in the presence of the Prime Minister here today. He said terrorism was a futile exercise, adding that the youth of the state was cruising on the path of democracy. Soz maintained that the state received a lot of funds for development over the past few years and added that a lot still needed to be done. He said the Prime Minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi played a pivotal role in the opening of the
Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road to facilitate the meeting of the divided families. Referring to the opening of trade links, Soz hoped that the Prime Minister would
pay his attention to making it more frequent, apart from using the links for tourist
purposes. Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad blamed the coalition partner, PDP, and the opposition National Conference for the fall of the coalition government prematurely. The two parties fought between themselves resulting in the “fall of our government and this stopped many developmental works” taken up during the past two years, Azad pointed out. Saying that development was the main agenda during the election process,
he said one party government at the Centre and the state was necessary for development. Referring to the damage caused due to
Khundroo fire 16 months ago, Azad said the Centre had granted an assistance of Rs 26.5 crore for compensating the losses. Out of these funds Rs 23.5 crore had been disbursed as relief among the kin of 17 killed, hundreds of those injured, losses to houses and crops. The disbursement of over Rs 3 crore was awaited because of
delay in certain formalities, he added. |
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Last two phases to decide fate of bigwigs
Jammu, December 14 Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad is pitted against NC’s Mohammad Aslam Goni and BJP's Daya Krishan Kotwal at Bhaderwah. Azad had won by a record margin of 58,000 votes in the byelection from Bhaderwah, the seat vacated by his cousin, Mohammed Sharief Naz, who won it in 2002. NC patron and former CM Farooq Abdullah is contesting from two Assembly seats --- Hazratbal and Sonawar. While Farooq faces PDP's Asiya Naqash at Hazratbal, an NC stronghold since 1957, he is locked in a keen electoral battle with PDP's G.Q. Paradesi in Sonawar. Both seats were won by the NC candidates, with Mohammad Yasin Shah winning the Sonawar seat and Mohammad Syed Akhoon winning the Hazratbal seat in the 2002 Assembly elections. Farooq is seeking re-election from more than one seat for the first time. PDP patron and former CM Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is contesting from Anantnag where he faces NC stalwart and Kashmir province president Mehboob Beig. Sayeed had won the Lok Sabha elections from Anantnag in 1998, while he got elected to the state Assembly from Pahalgam in 2004 after it was vacated by his daughter, Mehbooba, following the latter's election to the Lok Sabha. Senior Congress leader and former Deputy CM Mangat Ram Sharma is also locked in a tough battle with senior BJP leader and former union minister Chaman Lal Gupta from Jammu West. Jammu State Morcha president and runner-up in the last elections Virender Gupta is also in the fray. NC Jammu province president Ajay Sadhotra is facing Congress' Dharam Pal Sharma and BJP's Chaudhary Sukhnandan Singh in Marh. Former minister Gulchain Singh Charak is also contesting elections from Bishnah where he is facing former MLA Ashwani Sharma, NC candidate Yashpal Bhagat and BJP candidate Shilpi Verma, widow of Amarnath land protester Kuldeep Verma. Former PDP minister Tariq Hamid Karra is contesting Srinagar's Batmaloo seat where he is facing NC’s Irfan Shah. State BJP president Ashok Khajuria is testing his fate from Jammu East where he is facing Congress' Narinder Singh, NC’s Pradeep Bali and Panthers Party supremo Bhim Singh. Ajatshatru Singh, a scion of the royal family and son of Dr Karan Singh, is contesting from Nagrota where he faces former BJP MLA Jugal Kishore. He had lost the last Assembly poll to Jugal Kishore by a mere 67 votes. All these Assembly constituencies, except Bhaderwah and Anantnag, will go to the polls in the last phase on December 24. |
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Residents want candidates to deliver
Jammu, December 14 In Jammu west, the electorate wants their representative to take care of their civic problems and development of their area, which have remained unattended for long. They want their representatives to fulfil their aspirations and improve education, power and other sectors, including law and order in the state. Yash Pal Gupta (49) of Sarwal- New-plot said: “Inter-regional discrimination is one of the important issues we want our representative to take up in the Assembly. We get less employment as compared to the Kashmir valley that needs to be address.” Arun Sharma (46) from Rani Park, Jammu east constituency, said: “Addressing civic issues is our priority for electing our representative. We have choked drains and roads. The increasing vehicular traffic on the roads makes passage for the commuters difficult. We want our candidate to construct flyovers in this constituency to lighten the burden of traffic.” Ankur Verma (26) of Kachi Chawni, who is a first-time voter said: “I will vote for the candidate who will look into the problems of the youth on priority basis, besides security of the state against the rising terrorism and improvement of private sector for better employment opportunities in the state.” Sat Dev Sharma (54), another resident of the area, said: “I am not going to cast my vote this time because I am fed up with these self-interested candidates. They come to us only when they need votes and after wining the election they disappear.” |
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Srinagar closed against PM’s visit
Srinagar, December 14 Shops and public transport services were closed in the summer capital amidst tight security arrangements to prevent Hurriyat supporters from holding any protest. There was hardly any life on the roads of Srinagar which has long been a citadel of support to the separatist
ideology. However, as one left the city and travelled towards south Kashmir, where the PM's rally attracted a good crowd, or the north, markets were open in towns like Anantnag, Budgam and Kupwara. Many shops were, though, closed but locals said it normally happened on Sundays. "There is not much support for these strike calls which the Hurriyat gives on the drop of a hot. The losers are Kashmiri traders only.
They should review their strategy," Shabir Bhat, a shopkeeper, said. The Hurriyat often gives strike calls to express its disapproval to Indian rule whenever any high-level dignitary from New Delhi visits
Kashmir. There was no report of any untoward incident in the valley and the generally volatile areas like downtown Srinagar, old Baramulla and Sopore were also quiet. The big turnout in elections so far has been a big dampener for the separatists and coupled with huge security ring in the valley, Hurriyat workers have been largely listless, many say. |
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Protest against PM’s visit
Jammu, December 14
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Mufti hails PM’s Kashmir remark
Anantnag, December 14 The Mufti said the Prime Minister’s reiteration that his government was committed to carrying forward and expanding the process of cross-LoC cooperation and trade in the state would help create a new space for reconciliation in the region. He said this while addressing election rallies in Dooru and Homshalibugh constituencies of Anantnag district today, only miles away from the Prime Minister’s rally at Shangus. Ten constituencies of the two adjoining districts of Anantnag and Kulgan are going to the polls in the sixth phase on Wednesday. “Cooperation between India and Pakistan is the key to resolving the region’s problems and Kashmir would have a pivotal role in cementing the relations”, the Mufti said. He called upon the civil society in both the countries to respond to the emerging challenging situation so that the peace process was put back on track. “The culmination of the ongoing democratic process in the state should pave the way for initiating a sincere and serious wide-ranging dialogue, with all shades of the public opinion to evolve a broad-based consensus on the peaceful resolution of the state’s problems”, the Mufti said. Expressing shock and anguish over the incident of firing on unarmed protesters at Koil, Pulwama, yesterday, he said to protest and stage peaceful demonstrations was the democratic right of the people and the state and Central governments must make the security forces accountable for such reprehensible and unwarranted actions resulting in the death of innocent people. “Such repressive tactics is uncalled for and must end forthwith”, he cautioned and condemned the recurrent attacks on mediapersons. |
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Development dominates campaign here
Sandwiched between the militant-infested areas of Udhampur and Ramban districts, people here have set an example in communal harmony and never once during the era of terrorism did the town witness any violence or rising tensions between the majority communities.
Even today, a day before the campaigning for the sixth phase of elections comes to an end, development dominates the campaign mood. A gurdwara, a mosque and a mandir - all next to each other on the main highway passing through the main bazaar - are perhaps the symbol of communal harmony here. As the campaigning peaks here for the Wednesday polls to this Ramban (reserve) constituency, Hindu, Sikh and Muslim candidates seek votes in the name of development and not caste. “There are a little over 77,000 votes in the constituency. Hindus form over half the voters and Sikhs have about 1,800 votes in this constituency. The rest approximately 40 per cent of the voters here are Muslims. However, the voters are supporting the candidates that they think can best bring development to the area,” Congress candidate Ashok
Kumar said. “You can say the issue of development has an upper hand over the issue of terrorism here because people have minimised the impact of terrorism here due to their joint fight against it,”
Ashok Kumar said. “There have been incidents of violence in the era of terrorism in neighbouring areas like Sanasar, but no militant ever dared to either seek shelter or make an attempt to extortion here because of the “brotherhood” among the locals,” Vijay Gupta, a local
journalist, said. Candidates claim that the region has a tremendous potential of being developed as a tourist destination. “The region has a tremendous potential of being developed as a tourist destination. People are well aware that if the development in this area will be beneficial for everyone. So they will vote for a candidates who will bring development to the area,” Nazir Husain, a local said. Ramban is one of the six constituencies in the Jammu division that go to the polls on Wednesday during the sixth phase
of polling. The other five are Banihal, Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar and Inderwal. All these constituencies were once the worst affected by militancy due to easy availability of shelter among the local and difficult terrain for the security agencies. |
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Security beefed up in Doda
Doda, December 14 After the Kashmir valley, Doda district of Jammu province was the worst militancy-affected area, so the authorities don’t want to take any chance. This is despite the fact that there are no takers of the poll boycott call given by the
Hurriyat Conference and other separatist groups. “We have already completed the process of deployment of forces in every nook and corner of this belt,” DIG Doda-Ramban zone Hemant Kumar Lohia told The Tribune. Lohia said more than 160 companies of security forces, including the BSF, CRP, CISF and various wings of the state police, have been deployed in erstwhile Doda district, comprising Ramban and Kishtwar also. Lohia informed that meetings of different security agencies had been going on for the last one month as part of election preparations as well as evolve coordination among different agencies. Much before the beginning of the election process in this belt, the authorities had nabbed three prominent Hurriyat leaders from Kishtwar and slapped the Public Safety Act (PSA) on them. Following unprecedented polling in the five phases of the elections, militants and anti-national forces are desperate to register their presence, so the authorities are extra-cautions to frustrate any designs of such forces. For the last one-month, the police higher-ups have been working assiduously to ensure smooth conduct of electioneering. As the election campaign, so far, passed off peacefully in erstwhile Doda district, the biggest challenge before the security forces is to ensure peaceful polling on December 17. Some cops have been especially deployed to keep an eye on the activities of some people considered as sympathisers of the militants. In this militancy-plagued belt, out of total 600 polling stations, 250 are hypersensitive, 200 are sensitive and only 150 are normal. |
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Temple’s neglect has priest disenchanted
Billawar, December 14 This is how the head priest of ancient Bilkeshwar Mahadev Shiva Temple here reacted to the democratic exercise. Disappointed over the utter neglect of the historical temple, the 75-year-old head priest, Pandit Hemnath, said, “Me and my family do cast our votes, but let me put it frankly that these elections don’t change a common man’s fortune.” Leave aside transforming a common man’s life, those at the helm of affairs did not deem it fit to preserve this ancient heritage, where every month we had a fair that attracted a huge number of devotees, he added. Over the past 400 years, Pandit Hemnath’s forefathers had been looking after the temple. The dilapidated condition of the ancient monument today speaks volumes about the government’s criminal neglect. “Politicians do come here to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva, but ironically nothing has been done to preserve this rare monument, which dates back to Pandava’s time,” the head priest said, adding that the temple had been constructed by Arjuna’s son King Babhruvahana during “Dwapar Yug”. The temple, facing west, has another interesting myth attached to it. Whenever one of its bricks peeled off from the outer wall, the king holding the throne of the erstwhile princely state had died. Last time when it happened, Maharaja Hari Singh passed away, said the priest. Locals, who staunchly supported the head priest, said though the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had set up an office, it virtually did nothing to preserve the temple. After some cosmetic exercise putting up a board having the history of the temple, the ASI bothered little to preserve this temple, a symbol of faith that drew devotees even from outside the state, they added. |
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Smriti rakes up Amarnath land row for votes
Jammu, December 14 Addressing a public rally at Khour, Smriti called a young boy, Pawan Singh, who lost vision in both eyes due to an injury sustained during the agitation, and felicitated him on the dias. She said, “People of Jammu should never forget the sacrifices they made during the agitation. They did not fight for themselves, but for the country. I salute every person, who was involved in the agitation. I also expect the same people to show similar solidarity in voting for the BJP. Their vote should not get divided and hence get wasted.” Sneering at the Congress for its attempt to express doubts about the existence of Lord Rama in the Ram Setu case, she asked the people if they would still vote for such a party. “Dilapidated roads in the state are every body’s concern.” Smriti, who came to the venue via road pointed toward the state of bad roads and said, “I am wondering what the previous government of the PDP and the Congress had been doing, as they had not undertaken any developmental work in the state.” Inflation is another issue that the BJP is not ready
to let go. The escalating prices, which pinches the middle class the most, was also on the top of Smriti’s agenda. She assured people that the BJP would bring inflation under control if it got good representation here. She also called upon the people not to forgive Kashmir centric governments for their blatant discrimination against Jammu. “The people of Jammu pay the maximum tax and generate the maximum revenue for the state government, whereas the maximum benefits are availed of by people of the valley. The allocation of lesser number of seats to Jammu despite a larger population is another example of discrimination.” |
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Parties out to woo Sikhs
Jammu, December 14 The PDP has raised questions on the role of the BJP and the National Conference in the Sikh massacres of Chitisinghpora and Mehjoor Nagar. The party has demanded a judicial probe by a Supreme Court judge in the two massacres. "We demand a judicial probe by a Supreme Court judge in the massacre of Sikhs in Chitisinghpora and Mehjoor Nagar during the National Conference regime in the state and more so when the BJP-led NDA was in power at the Centre," said former minister and senior PDP leader Rangil Singh here. The PDP leader also raised question on the NC role during the anti-Sikh riots. Lambasting the Congress, the party of which he was a Cabinet minister, Rangil Singh said:"The anti-Sikh riots of 1984 also exposed the draconian face of the Congress." On the other hand, rubbishing the PDP leader’s claims, state BJP president Ashok Khajuria said: "The BJP has a clear policy about Sikhs; no other party is as friendly with Sikhs as the BJP is. We are a coalition partner with Sikhs in Punjab and are always committed to the cause of the Sikhs." He said the PDP, which had no agenda for fighting elections in the state, had been trying to misguide the people by coming out with "politically motivated statements". The Congress has also been trying to attract Sikh voters in the area by projecting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the Sikh face of the party. "How can a party be anti-Sikhs when it made a Sikh the PM and the president of the country." a senior Congress leader said. |
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LeT vows to continue armed struggle
Srinagar, December 14 “The LeT vows to continue the struggle till India resolved Kashmir issue as per wishes and aspirations of Kashmiris,” chief commander of the outfit Qari Abdul Wahid Kashmiri said in a statement to a local English daily. Wahid claimed that the outfit had no links with Taliban and al-Qaida, fighting foreign troops in Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. “The ban on the LeT was unjustified in the past and is same this time (in the case of JuD) also. By imposing a ban on the LeT, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has itself violated the mandate,” he said. He said it was the duty of the UNSC to pay heed to “our original mission before banning the
organisation.” In a separate statement to a local news agency, pro-Pakistan Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen expressed anguish over the crackdown against the Lashkar-e-Taiba and the UNSC imposing ban on the Jamiat-ul-Dawa. It also termed the ban on the Jamaat-ul-Dawa as “unwarranted.” Meanwhile, the United Jehad Council, an amalgam of various militant outfits, in a statement to a local news agency denied media reports suggesting closure of its offices in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and its top leadership going underground.
— PTI |
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Panthers for action against Kishtwar DC
Jammu, December 14 In a press note issued here, Bhim Singh alleged that the deputy commissioner and the SSP headquarters of Kishtwar refused to provide him accommodation and fuel to the security vehicles escorting him while he was campaigning in Kishtwar yesterday. Bansi Lal Sharma, state president of the JKNPP, said the Election Commission of India had also been apprised of the matter. The Panthers Party supreme said he had to take refuge in a private house to spend the night without adequate security guards. He said upon reaching Dak Bungalow, he found that it had been "locked at the behest of the deputy commissioner” and stated that his persistent pleas
yielded that all rooms were already occupied by the election observers. Singh said his requests to the security in charge DSP headquarters Kishtwar for re-fuelling his security vehicles were turned down on the excuse that fuel was not available. As a result, he said he had to cancel his
tour to Paddar. Kishtwar DC Sudarshan Sharma said as per the rules, government buildings could not be given to political leaders during the election time. He said requests for rooms came from the NC and the PDP in the past, but was turned down politely quoting rulebook. He said he had not received any request for re-fueling
from Bhim Singh. |
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Poll authorities order probe
Rajouri, December 14 Sources in the district election office here said an inquiry has been ordered by the chief electoral officer’s office after a contesting candidate Choudhary Talib Hussain lodged a written complaint against the staff on the election duty for making unsuccessful attempt to unlock the strong room on the night of the election day here on November 23. |
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Cong candidate begins campaign
Jammu, December 14 As per a press statement, a score of party leaders and activists have intensified door-to-door campaign for Jamwal. Meanwhile, Jamwal yesterday inaugurated three election offices, one each at Mohalla Paharia, Sant Ahata and Afghan Mohalla. Besides, party workers organised two meetings at Jullaka Mohalla and Gujjar Nagar, where Jamwal was felicitated.Speaking at the meetings, he asked the people to support him on the bases of his performance. |
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Shun divisive politics, says Ajatshatru
Jammu, December 14 While addressing various election meetings here, he claimed that only his party could ensure overall development in the state. Ajatshatru said if voted to power, the NC would provide better amenities to the people in far-off pockets of the state and eradicate unemployment. |
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CRPF jawan, civilian killed in mishap
Srinagar, December 14 The accident was especially ironic for Ghulam Hassan, who and whose kin Owais Shah (11) was given a lift by the security vehicle on his pleading because Owais was ill, as he died while Owais and some other security personnel survived with injuries. One Ranjan Karkar, a CRPF jawan, also lost his life. Eyewitnesses said the vehicle was approaching a turn at a high speed and the driver could not negotiate it and lost his control. A few labourers were also working on the road to lay underground cables which abetted the accident. |
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Exams put off
Srinagar, December 14 Official sources said the next dates for examinations would be announced later. However, other examinations would be held as per schedule. Official sources said the examinations were postponed in view of the general strike call given by the coordination committee (CC), spearheading the present anti-poll agitation in Kashmir, against the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the state today.
— UNI |
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Shangus (Anantnag), December 14
