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Cong rigged poll in Darhal: Leela Karan
Preconditions not good for peace process: Mufti
BJP banks on Vajpayee’s image to woo Muslims
Govt staff working
for Cong: BJP
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Bhaderwah byelection
Additional forces for sensitive polling stations
Farooq files papers from Srinagar
Omar regime ‘total failure’
Chief Secy for war on drugs
Naik is new NRPC chief
Woman charred to death
Man rescued
Cars mow down 3
Tremors in Srinagar
VDC member commits suicide
4 LeT workers held
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Cong rigged poll in Darhal: Leela Karan
Repoll in Mendhar
on April 19 The Election Commission (EC) on Friday ordered a repoll in polling station No. 44 Salwa-A of 86 Mendhar Assembly segment of Poonch district. The repoll would be held on April 19 from 7 am to 5
pm. Returning officer for the Jammu-Poonch Lok Sabha constituency Mandeep K Bhandari told The Tribune that following damage to the EVMs in a clash between two groups belonging to two political parties, the EC ordered a repoll
today. The EVMs were damaged in a clash following an altercation between two groups, said Bhandari. He added now the repoll amid tight security would be held on April 19.
Jammu, April 17 He said, “The names of voters in an entire locality comprising several families were found missing from the voter list. Till the last minute, people kept rushing to agents and the election observer to enquire about it. Not only this, information provided in the voter lists about the personal details of people too were wrong in many cases. And because of this, less voting took place
yesterday.” Seeing a conspiracy in the entire episode, he demanded a repoll in those polling booths, which registered 80 per cent voting. “The coalition parties took over booths and polled bogus votes in 21 booths in Darhal. Workers of both NC and Congress locked up the agents and captured the booths. In other instance, at booth numbers 3C, 2A clashes between the supporters of the PDP and the Congress took place. The DSP of the area was injured in the clashes.” Leela Karan said his supporters were roughed up at Government High School at Manjakot, where supporters of MLA Shabir Khan seized the EVMs and polled votes in favour of their candidate. Later 90 per cent polling was declared at this polling station. Brother of Shabir Khan too did the same in two polling booth numbers 39 and 39A in the same area. According to Leela Karan, similar incidents were reported from Gambir Muglan in Rajouri, where only 100 persons came to vote, but the Congress showed polling by 1,800 persons. In the entire belt of Chowki Chora and booth Nos. 5 and 13 in Akhnoor, Sham Lal, Health Minister and brother of Congress candidate Madan Lal Sharma, rigged the poll. He also raised a finger at the chief electoral officer alleging that he was conniving with the NC-Congress. “I had complained to the CEO and the election observer about the sensitivity of these booths and asked for the installation of CCTV cameras in these booths. But nothing was done in this regard.” |
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Preconditions not good for peace process: Mufti
Srinagar, April 17 He said this in response to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s repeated assertion that he would not resume the dialogue unless Pakistan convinced us of its commitment to eradication of terror. Mufti Sayeed said the stance was not in line with the statesmanship shown by him and Atal Behari Vajpayee in initiating the peace process. “The peace process would not have seen light of the day in the wake of attack on Parliament and concentration of troops along the border if Vajpayee had not taken the historic Srinagar April 2003 initiative in response to the urge for peace he witnessed in Kashmir,” Mufti Sayeed said in a statement here today. He said after taking over as the Prime Minister of the country in 2004, Manmohan Singh had carried forward the peace process with the same zeal. Urging the leadership of national parties to keep peace process with Pakistan and resolution of Kashmir issue above electoral rhetoric, Mufti said Manmohan Singh had earned considerable credibility on the subject and he should lead in this by example. |
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BJP banks on Vajpayee’s image to woo Muslims
Udhampur, April 17 Interestingly, in the Hindu-dominated Kathua and Udhampur districts, BJP leaders and workers rarely mention the name of Vajpayee during campaign, but in the Muslim-dominated areas like Banihal, Doda and Bhaderwah party workers in every public meeting are reminding the voters about steps taken by the former Prime Minister for the welfare of the Muslim community. For the erstwhile Doda district, the BJP has printed special posters in Urdu carrying the picture of Vajpayee. To counter the campaign launched by the Congress, the BJP leaders are trying to project themselves as the ‘real’ secular and well wishers of the Muslim community. Nirmal Singh, while campaigning in the Bhalesa area of Bhaderwah, reminded people about steps taken by Vajpayee for the welfare of the minority community in the country. He mentioned it was during the NDA regime that a direct flight was started for Haj pilgrims from Srinagar city. Vajpayee had initiated confidence building measures (CBMs) to normalise relations with Pakistan. Due to his bold steps, the former Prime Minister had become popular among the Muslims. Not only the BJP even PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed had been praising Vajpayee in every public meeting for the steps taken by him. Muslims comprise about 30 per cent of the total 13 lakhs voters in the Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha constituency. The support of this community is must for winning the prestigious seat. “The Congress and other political groups have launched malicious campaigns against the BJP to garner the support of Muslims”, Nirmal Singh said . “In the erstwhile Doda, Hindus and Muslims both have been bearing the brunt of the militancy, so the Muslims brethren have been extending support to us because fighting militancy is one of our main election planks”, Nirmal Singh told The Tribune. |
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Govt staff working
for Cong: BJP
Udhampur, April 17 BJP leaders from Bhaderwah have alleged that government officers have been campaigning for Congress candidates, but the higher ups have maintained a criminal silence over the violation of model code of conduct. BJP leader Koushal Kotwal, who has given a written complaint to the election observer in this regard, told The Tribune that the coalition candidates had been misusing official machinery. He mentioned that employees of the Social Welfare Department and the Rural Development Department had been arranging public meetings for Congress candidates in Bhaderwah. “We have already informed the election observer about employees who are working for the Congress”, Kotwal said. He alleged with the connivance of some officers the Congress had hatched a conspiracy to capture polling booths in the Bhalesa area. |
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Bhaderwah byelection
Jammu, April 17 Known as Chotta Kashmir, the picturesque but communally sensitive Assembly constituency goes to the poll on April 23. The campaigning has already hit national headlines with the BJP roping in Ghulam Ali Azad, brother of the former Chief Minister, to campaign for BJP candidate Dilip Parihar. Ghulam Ali had fired up the campaign by joining the BJP despite being a Muslim and belonging to a sensitive area where Hindu-Muslim clashes have taken place many a times. He jacked up the temperature further by claiming that Muslims were wrong in the Babri Masjid issue, “There was no mosque there. Even if it was, the Quran says defiled place was not fit for offering prayers.” The BJP specially took him for campaigning in Phalesa village, from where Ghulam Nabi Azad belongs to. The Ghulam Nabi Azad family is pitched against its own blood in the elections. The Congress has fielded Azad’s cousin, Mohd Sharif Niaz. This has angered Mustafa Azad, another cousin, who was a ticket claimant. This can hamper the prospects of the Congress in the poll battle. The Azad family has to confront a brother who has gone to their “enemy number one, the BJP” and another who is not supporting the family as well as the Congress nominee. The Bhaderwah seat is witnessing third election in four years. It has been a give and take between the Azad family. Earlier, Mohd Sharif Niaz had vacated the seat for Ghulam Nabi Azad in 2006. Now, Azad has vacated it for him. Meanwhile, the BJP is plagued by rebels as well. The party candidate Dilip Singh Parihar is facing problems from a strong BJP ticket contender - Daya Krishnan Kotwal. The party cadre was not happy with allocation of ticket to Parihar. He, however, has managed to bring around some leaders, who opposed him. |
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Seven hurt in clashes
Srinagar, April 17 At least seven persons were injured in clashes across the valley, the police said. Scores of youths raised slogans against Ansari and burnt his effigy in
Nawakadal. In his interview to a local agency, Ansari had refrained from criticising Sajjad Lone’s decision to join the poll fray and asked what was the need for the Hizbul to call for a boycott campaign when they had kept away during the Assembly elections? The slogans reserved for mainstream leaders in the separatist hub of downtown were raised today against
Ansari, a veteran Hurriyat leader with a moderate tilt. The area is a stronghold of Mirwaiz Umar
Farooq, chairman of the Hurriyat (M), who is currently undergoing treatment in New Delhi, but Ansari’s yesterday’s outbursts apparently proved too hot for the protesters. However, Hurriyat sources said the effigy-burners were a small crowd and did not “represent” the overall mood. “There was no need for him to speak against the
Hizbul. His faction has already decided not to call for a poll boycott, which has not impressed us,” Muneer Ahmad, a youth from
Kawdera, said. Sources said Ansari along with Abdul Gani Bhatt played a key role in prevailing over their colleagues for “no-boycott” line after humiliation they received in the form of a heavy polling during the Assembly poll despite their boycott calls. Despite the Hizbul Mujahideen’s open alignment with Syed Ali Shah
Geelani, who had called for a poll boycott, its or its chief Salahuddin’s criticism was considered unthinkable among all hues of separatists due to a mix of fear and shared ideological past. Protests were also witnessed in
Baramulla, Sopore and Anantnag, as scores of people took to raising slogans and throwing stones after the Friday prayers. Official sources said the protesters were limited in number and were dispersed by the security forces. |
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Additional forces for sensitive polling stations
Udhampur, April 17 Several senior police, CRPF, CISF and IRP officials were present at the meeting. Khoda issued the necessary instructions to all police officers to ensure strict security at all 363 polling stations of the district well before the polling day on April 23 in Reasi district. Additional forces shall be deployed at the sensitive and hyper-sensitive polling stations, the DGP said. 77,514 to vote in Kargil district
Jammu: As many as 77,514 Kargil district electors, including 607 service voters, will exercise their franchise during the Lok Sabha elections for the Ladakh Parliamentary constituency on May 13. Of the 237 polling stations in Kargil district, 37 have been declared as hypersensitive as 35 as sensitive. Shaday polling station in Zanskar subdivision, situated at an altitude of 13,850 feet, is the highest polling booth while Hundurman-mal, situated at 8500 feet, is the lowest in the district. Men and material for all 49 polling stations of Zanskar subdivision will be airlifted from Kargil as with roads blocked due to a heavy snowfall. |
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Farooq files papers from Srinagar
Srinagar, April 17 Tahir Abbas of the Janata Dal and Independent Bashir Ahmad Mir also filed their nominations today. The last date for nominations is April 18. Farooq Abdullah, who was recently elected to the Rajya Sabha, had also nominated Salman Sagar, Mayor of Srinagar, for the Srinagar constituency. With his filing of nomination papers, Farooq has set at rest speculation over the candidature. The PDP has already nominated Moulvi Iftikhar Hussain Ansari for the prestigious constituency of Srinagar. Farooq Abdullah and Saifuddin Soz held detailed meetings with their provincial and district-level workers here yesterday to work out a campaign programme in the valley. For effective coordination during campaigning, the two parties have constituted a coordination committee headed by provincial NC president Ali Mohammad Dar, with and bdul Majid Padroo of the Congress as its deputy. |
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Omar regime ‘total failure’
Udhampur, April 17 Addressing a series of public meetings at Batote and adjoining localities in support of party candidate Balbir Singh, PDP general secretary Daman Bhasin said today that except for increasing miseries of the masses the new coalition had done nothing to solve their problems. The coalition had been functioning without any programme and policies. He reminded the people that during the Assembly elections the NC had promised to recruit middle pass youth in the police but after attaining power the party had maintained a criminal silence on this promise. |
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Chief Secy for war on drugs
Jammu, April 17 He also underlined the need for a survey to gauge the extent of the problem and then devise means to tackle it effectively. Addressing the fifth meeting of the State-Level Apex Committee (SLAC) against drug trafficking and drugs cultivation in the state, the Chief Secretary said drug abuse was a serious problem that was eating up our youths and there was a need to go whole hog against this menace. He highlighted the need for carrying out a coordinated campaign to root it out. He set the deadline for the preparation of the action plan was May 2009. He also called for a community-based initiative against drug abuse and said NGOs must be involved in the efforts against this menace. |
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Naik is new NRPC chief
Jammu, April 17 The committee has been set up under the Electricity Act, 2003, and comprises the states of Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, UP, Uttaranchal and the Union Territory of Chandigarh. The new chairman said the state government had chalked out a timebound action plan to add generation capacity, expand and strengthen the transmission and distribution system for rapid socio-economic development of the state on a sustainable basis.
— TNS |
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Woman charred to death
Jammu, April 17 Priyanka Bai, wife of Vishnu Yadav, was charred to death after a fire broke out in their shanty near Bari Brahmana railway station late last night. The couple was shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) where Priyanka Bai succumbed to her burns. The condition of Vishnu Yadav is stated to be critical. The couple belonged to Raipur district of Chattisgarh. A police officer attributed the fire to a short circuit. In another incident in the Bari Brahmana industrial estate, at least three factory workers sustained burns in a fire that broke out in Shiva Therma Packers. |
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Man rescued
Jammu, April 17 Official sources told The Tribune that last evening one Tarvinder Singh of Gangyal informed the police that his brother Dalbir Singh had been kidnapped by some persons from Jewel Chowk and had been held hostage in a house in Gujjar Nagar. Tarvinder divulged the name of kidnapper as Mohammed Ayaz, alias Shanu of Gujjar Nagar, who had demanded Rs 40,000 as ransom to release his brother. The police laid a trap and arrested Mohammed Ayaz and Jagdeep Singh, alias Lucky, while they were taking ransom of Rs 9,000 from Tarvinder Singh, near Gujjar Nagar. However, two other accomplices of Mohammed Ayaz — Rupinder Singh, and Royal Singh managed to escape. |
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Cars mow down 3
Jammu, April 17 A car (JK02F/1414) hit Krishna Devi(78)of Dal Wali Gali and Sansar Chand(74) of Kanak Mandi, besides Nazir Ahmed of Talab Khatikan around 7 am this morning on Wazarat Road here. The victims were shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) where Krishna Devi and Sansar Chand succumbed to their injuries. The old citizens were on a morning walk when Syed Nissar Ahmed of Sidhra rammed his car into them. Police has arrested him. In another accident, a Honda City car (JK02AJ/90) hit at Green Belt in the Gandhi Nagar area, killing him on the spot. The deceased had been identified as Rakesh Kumar Gupta of Gandhi Nagar. |
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Tremors in Srinagar
Srinagar, April 17 An earthquake of measuring 5.4 on the Richter scale shook the region at 2.57 am which was followed by an aftershock of 5.1 magnitude around 4 am hours a spokesman at the regional seismological office said.
— PTI |
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VDC member commits suicide
Jammu, April 17 |
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4 LeT workers held
Srinagar, April 17 |
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